NEOPLASTIC AND NONNEOPLASTIC LESIONS OF THE REPRODUCTIVE-TRACT OF THEWOODCHUCK (MARMOTA-MONAX)

Ten neoplastic and six nonneoplastic lesions of the reproductive tract were identified in 14 woodchucks (3 females, 11 males) out of 748 woo dchucks necropsied over an 11-yr period. All animals were from a colon y of woodchucks used for studies on woodchuck hepatitis virus (WHV). O f the 14 animals, 11 came from a group of 59 woodchucks whose reproduc tive tracts received detailed examination, including histology, regard less of gross observations. Lesions in the female reproductive tracts included cystic rete ovarii, ovarian hematoma, cystic endometrial hype rplasia, and uterine leiomyoma. The males had orchitis, periorchitis, epididymitis, Sertoli cell tumor, interstitial cell tumors, adenoma of the rete testis, seminomas, intralymphatic testicular lymphosarcoma, and a teratoma. In male woodchucks, nonneoplastic lesions occurred in animals less than 2 yr old while neoplasms were identified in animals ranging in age from 11/2 to 7 yr. There was no relationship between th e presence of reproductive tract lesions and the source (colony vs. na tive habitat) or the presence or absence of WHV infection.